The gambling age is an aspect of gambling law — the minimum age at which one can legally gamble in a certain jurisdiction. In some countries, gambling is illegal regardless of age, while some countries have different age limits for different types of gambling, and some countries have no explicit minimum gambling age.
Oceania Country Age Notes American SamoaIllegal for all ages 18 (bingo and raffles)Gambling is illegal except for bingo and community raffles.18The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 passed by the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia banned online gambling in the form of casinos and slots. Federated States of Micronesia Dependent on State lawGambling regulation is a State responsibility: Pacific Coast Enterprises v. Chuuk, 9 FSM Intrm. 543, 546 (Chk. S. Ct. Tr. 2000). Chuuk and Yap – illegalGambling is illegal, except for "games played in private homes or residences in which no person makes money for playing or operating such games": TDL 2-94-21, § 2 (Text version in draft Chuuk Code).Gambling is illegal, with exceptions for "any nonprofit organization, certified as such by the Treasurer, from conducting raffles, lotteries, or bingo games in order to raise money for any educational, charitable, or public purpose" Yap State Code (1987), Title 11, Chapter 6, §601. (Most recent online version.)18 French Polynesia18 Kiribati 18Gambling and Lotteries Act 1988, s7(i). Marshall Islands Illegal for all ages Gambling is illegal except for non-profit bingo, raffles and cakewalks.Gaming and Recreation Prohibition Act 1998 [31 MIRC Ch.4]. Nauru 18Gaming Act 2011, s10(c).20 (casinos) 18 (horse racing and instant kiwi) None (other types, including lottery) Palau 18 Gambling is illegal in Palau except for social gambling, non-profit organisations, and offshore gambling.Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, Chapter 50. The social gambling age is tied to the age of majority,Penal Code of the Republic of Palau, § 5010. which is 18 under Palauan law. 18 Samoa21Land-based casinos authorized to operate in Samoa are intended exclusively for foreign tourists. Solomon Islands 18Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3). People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, the minimum age to purchase a ticket is 16.Gaming and Lotteries Act, s15(2)(m). Tokelau Illegal for all ages Gaming is illegal in Tokelau (defined as "a game for money with cards or with dice").Crimes, Procedure and Evidence Rules 2003, s64. TongaIllegal for all agesAll casinos and lotteries are prohibited. Tuvalu 18Gaming and Lotteries Act, s3(3). People below the age of 18 can gamble with parental permission in a private dwelling-house or in the presence of a parent. For certain small lotteries, one only needs to be 16 in order to buy a ticket.Gaming and Lotteries Act, s9(2)(m). Vanuatu 18Vanuatu Interactive Gaming Act, s18.Casino Control Act, s44(4). The given references only prevent people under the age of 18 from gambling online or in casinos.
Europe Country/territoryMinimum ageNotes2118181821 (casinos)18 (national lottery)1818 Croatia18 (excluding non-casino machines and private)181818 (except sports betting)21 (casinos)18 (sports betting, national lottery)18 Finland18 France18 Lowered from 21 to 18 on May 5, 1987, for casinos. Germany18–21 Varies by state and type of gambling; lotteries and casinos are generally rated above 18, except for casinos in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony, which are rated above 21. 18 Greece21 (casinos, online betting, VLT) 18 (offline betting at OPAP betting shops and authorized resellers)25, or 18 for foreign citizens and stateless persons181818 Ireland1818 Italy18World Casinos Info, https://www.worldcasinos.info/italy. KosovoIllegal for all agesGambling was outlawed in 2019 for 10 years due to a string of murders that occurred in casinos that year.1818181818, or 25 for Maltese citizens18 Monaco18 Montenegro1818181818 Poland18 Portugal25 (some casinos)18 (some casinos, and all other types)Portugal has complicated gambling laws. It depends on each casino, and there are even some casinos which allow tourists from the age of 18, and local people from 25.18On 16 February 2026, the senate passed a bill to raise the age limit to 21. San Marino18 Serbia181818 Spain1820 (casinos) 18 (other types)18Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries)Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.18 UK (United Kingdom)Age variable by bet: 18 16None
(See the table for more information)Illegal for all ages (casinos) None (lottery)Gambling is illegal in Vatican City, except for the Government lottery.
Asia Country/territoryMinimum ageNotes18 AfghanistanIllegal for all agesAll casinos and lotteries are forbidden.2118 BahrainIllegal for all ages None (raffles)Illegal for all ages BhutanIllegal for all ages 18 (lottery)Gambling is illegal in Bhutan except for the Government lottery.18Illegal for all agesIllegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lottery)Illegal for all ages18 (lotteries)Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries. Macau and Hong Kong are exceptions to these laws and have their own legal frameworks allowing casinos and other forms of betting.181818Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries. Hong Kong is an exception to these laws and has its own legal frameworks allowing casinos and other forms of betting.21According to Public Gambling Act 1867, gambling is considered as illegal in the majority of the regions across the country. Illegal for all agesAll forms of gambling are illegal. - English translation hereIllegal for all ages IraqIllegal for all ages 18 (lottery)Gambling is illegal in Iraq, except for the Government lottery.182018 (pachinko) Majority is lowered to 18, but gambling age still stays at 20 (for lotteries and casinos). JordanIllegal for all ages 18 (lottery)Gambling is illegal in Jordan, except for the Government lottery. Kazakhstan21 KuwaitIllegal for all agesGambling is outlawed in Kuwait under influence of Sharia.181821 Macau21 18 (lottery, sports betting, racing) Gambling is illegal in China except for lotteries. Macau is an exception to these laws and has its own legal frameworks allowing casinos and other forms of betting.21Illegal for all ages (Muslims)Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands is the only casino in Malaysia as of 2025.Illegal for all agesIllegal for all agesThe Mongolian parliament outlawed gambling in mid-2025.18 Nepal21 (casinos) 18 (lotteries)Casinos in Nepal are limited to tourists and foreigners. Nepalese citizens are prohibited from entering casinos. North KoreaIllegal for all agesCasinos in North Korea are intended for foreign visitors. There is no publicly available, authoritative source that specifies a minimum legal age for lotteries.Illegal for all agesIllegal for all agesIllegal for all ages21 (casinos)18 (lottery)Illegal for all ages18 Saudi ArabiaIllegal for all ages21 (casinos)18 (lottery, sports betting, racing) 1921Illegal for all ages2018Illegal for all ages (casinos) 20 (lottery)Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the Government lottery.18Only the Government lottery and licensed slot machines are legal.Illegal for all ages (casinos) 18 (lotteries)Gambling is illegal in Turkey except for lotteries and horse races.21 (casinos) 18 (lotteries)Illegal for all ages 18 (lotteries)Gambling was outlawed in 2007, except for lotteries. The Uzbek government went to sign decrees legalizing and regulating online sports betting to fund the development of local football. However, due to internal debates and social concerns, this move was revoked or put on hold, leaving online betting prohibited. Vietnam21Illegal for all ages
Africa +Country/territoryMinimum ageNotes AlgeriaIllegal for all ages18 Benin18 Botswana1818 Burundi18 Cameroon21 Cape Verde18 Central African Republic18 Chad18This law is often not enforced virtually. Comoros1818 Democratic Republic of the Congo18 Republic of Congo18 Djibouti18 Egypt2118Illegal for all agesThis framework heavily incorporates Islamic Sharia principles. Eswatini21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)2118As of 2026 The Gambia18 Ghana181818As of 2026 Kenya21 Lesotho18 Liberia18 LibyaIllegal for all agesUnder Islamic law (Sharia), gambling is illegal. Madagascar18 Malawi18 18 MauritaniaIllegal for all ages Mauritius21Mauritian law blocks access to international betting websites that not are not licensed in Mauritian territory. Morocco1818 Namibia2121 (some casinos) 18 (some other casinos, all other types)1818 São Tomé and Príncipe181818 Sierra Leone18 SomaliaIllegal for all ages South Africa1818 SudanIllegal for all ages Tanzania18 Togo18 Tunisia18Casinos are intended for foreign tourists only Uganda25 Zambia18 Zimbabwe18
North America Country/territoryMinimum ageNotes21 (commercial gaming) 16 (minor local and charitable lotteries)181818181818–19 (varies by province)ProvinceMinimum ageNotesAlberta18 (casinos) 18 (lottery)British Columbia19 (casinos) 19 (lottery)Manitoba18 (casinos) 18 (lottery)New Brunswick19 (casinos) 19 (lottery)Newfoundland and Labrador19 (casinos) 19 (lottery)Nova Scotia19 (casinos) 19 (lottery)Ontario19 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Prince Edward Island19 (casinos) 19 (lottery)Quebec18 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Saskatchewan19 (casinos) 18 (lottery)1818Illegal for all ages181818181818181818181818181818182121 (casinos)18 (other)18, 19, 21 or illegal (varies by state)StateMinimum ageNotesAlabama19Alaska21Arizona21Arkansas21California21 or 18 (casinos) 18 (Lottery)Colorado21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Colorado Lottery Rules and Regulations 1.3.3(a)Connecticut21Delaware21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)District of Columbia18Florida21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Georgia18HawaiiIllegal for all agesIdaho18Illinois21Indiana21Iowa21Kansas21Kentucky18Louisiana21Maine21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Maryland21Massachusetts21 (casinos) 18 (lottery)Michigan18Minnesota18Mississippi21Missouri21Montana18Nebraska21Nevada21New Hampshire21New Jersey21New Mexico21New York18North Carolina21North Dakota19Ohio21 or 18Oklahoma18Oregon21 (casinos) 18 (other)Pennsylvania21Rhode Island18South Dakota21South Carolina21Tennessee21 (sports betting) 18 (lottery)Texas21UtahIllegal for all agesVermont21Virginia21 (casinos) 18 (other)Washington18West Virginia21Wisconsin21Wyoming21
South America Country/territoryMinimum ageNotes1818This law is not often enforced.18Illegal for all ages (casinos and bets)18 (lotteries, VLT)Gambling is illegal in Brazil except for lotteries. In September 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to completely ban online betting sites and digital casinos in Brazil. The measure will be announced in the coming days via a provisional measure.18181818181818181818181818
Antarctica Country/territoryMinimum ageNotesNot applicable / VaryingSee Crime in Antarctica181818
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